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While using your cell phone at a massive public event, like a concert, conference, or sporting event, you have probably experienced slow communication, poor performance or slow browsing speeds, as crowds arrive.

That's because of ‘Spectrum Crunch’, which means, Interference of WiFi signals with each other.

WiFi signals of all cell-phones in a large event interfere with each other because they are all fighting over the same limited spectrum but there is not enough bandwidth to handle all the traffic from the cellphones that are trying to use the same frequency slice at the same time, leaving them frustrated with painfully slow Internet access.

However, a team of researchers from the MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has developed a solution for this problem.

In a new research paper, 'Real-time Distributed MIMO Systems,' published online this week, the MIT team described a system for managing networks that cause the WiFi routers to collaborate better.

Dubbed "MegaMIMO 2.0" (Multiple Input, Multiple Output), the system uses an algorithm that coordinates multiple access points (routers) at once, syncing their phases so that multiple transmitters can share the same part of the spectrum without interference.

The algorithm developed by the researchers processes a router's signal in such a way that multiple routers can send information on the same wireless spectrum without causing any interference.

So what's the Result?

In the test conducted by the MIT team, led by professor Dina Katabi, the researchers said their MegaMIMO 2.0 was able to transfer wireless data 3.6 times faster than existing systems in a crowded room.

What's more impressive: The team was able to increase Wi-Fi speeds by a factor of 10 when it had tested with additional routers.

However, the team admitted that the MegaMIMO 2.0 system had not been tested in a stadium or any large venue, but in a lab using four laptops that roamed on Roomba robots designed to move around like people do in large gatherings.

You can watch the video demonstration that shows off the MegaMIMO 2.0 system online.

So-called 'Spectrum Crunch' is such a major issue that the White House recently announced both a $400 Million research initiative as well as a $4 Million global competition dedicated to this problem.

The team is confident their system will work and has already created a startup, called MegaMIMO, and is now exploring ways to commercialize their technology, so perhaps you will be able to watch YouTube videos at concerts and conferences.

However, you will have to be patient, as Ezzeldin Hussein Hamed, one of the MIT researchers, said it was too early to estimate when the average American would experience the benefits of these systems.

After the failure of Facebook's Free Basics -- an initiative to provide free Internet access -- in India due to the violation of Net Neutrality principles, Facebook has reintroduced its plan to provide Internet access in rural India, but this time:

The social networking giant is planning to launch a commercial WiFi service in India.

Facebook is testing a WiFi service in rural India, allowing people with no internet connection to buy affordable data packages from their local internet service providers (ISPs) in order to access the Internet via local hotspots.

Dubbed Express Wi-Fi, the program is in sync with Mark Zuckerberg's Internet.org -- the platform Facebook used for its Free Basics to bring the Internet to all.

India banned Free Basics in the country on net neutrality grounds. Net Neutrality advocates argued that by offering some websites and services for free, people are discouraged from visiting other sites.

Now, Facebook has partnered with state-owned carrier Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to expand its Express Wi-Fi program into a commercial launch, rolling out 125 rural public WiFi hotspots soon in India, the Economic Times reported today.

"We are testing Express Wi-Fi program in India currently that allows customers to purchase fast, reliable and affordable data packages from their local ISP (Internet service providers) to access the Internet via local hotspots," a Facebook spokesperson told ET.

If successful, Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi program has the potential to provide the Internet to a huge user base – currently, 462 Million people in India are using the Internet, but, with the lowest average connection speed among other Asian countries.

Since just one-third of the whole population of the country has Internet access, India is a key market for global giants like Google and Facebook.

Both the companies are going out on a limb by bringing Internet connectivity in rural areas through flying drones, high-altitude balloons, and laser beams to ready the market for its next Billion users.

Last month, Facebook announced the creation of a new open-source wireless communication platform called OpenCellular, which is a doorbell-sized hardware device that can be easily deployed in remote locations by anyone.

If you are reading this THN Article, then you are the one of those lucky guys who has access to the Internet, but everyone is not as lucky as you. On this planet, about 40% of the population is still not having an access to the Internet services.

So, there is good news for all those who are still deprived of Internet services - Free Global WiFi Internet Access called 'Project Outernet'.

A Non-profit organization 'Media Development Investment Fund (MIDF)' based in New York has taken this initiative, regardless of the geographical location, the Outernet will broadcast free, bypassing filtering or other means of censorship and universal Internet all over the globe from high in orbit.

A few hundred of Low-cost mini satellites (cubesats) will be sent into the space to create a constellation in the low earth orbit. To widen the range of service area, these Cubesats will utilize universally accepted standard protocols like DVB, Digital Radio Mondiale and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) WiFi Multitasking.

Outernet is nothing but a modern version of shortwave radio, it will receive data from the Ground Stations and will transmit the received data in a continuous loop until it will receive new data.

“Broadcasting data allow citizens to reduce their reliance on costly internet data plans in places where monthly fees are too expensive for average citizens. And offering continuously updated web content from the space bypasses censorship of the Internet.” Outernet says on their website.

Outernet will broadcast Global news, applications, information, educational courseware, and emergency communication services. Technical assessment of the project has been started in last December and a prototype will be tested nearly in June this year.

"By leveraging datacasting technology over a low-cost satellite constellation, Outernet is able to bypass censorship, ensure privacy, and offer a universally-accessible information service at no cost to global citizens."

MDIF is planning to enhance the ability of the service by enabling the data transmission from anywhere, depending on the availability of funds required for this feature. MDIF's director of innovation said it would take only three years and $12 billion to get the project up and running.

Google has been working on a similar project called “Project Loon - Balloon-Powered Internet for Everyone” for quite some time.

This technology seems very innovative and useful for the enhancement of the civilization of Humanity in remote areas as well, but it has its own limitation.

After such services get fully functional, all of us might face Security and Privacy Threats by relying on the technology by U.S Based Companies where the NSA wants to control and intercept everything. Till now NSA could target only 60% population with Internet access, but this may potentially allow them to target 100% audience with regular and Free Internet access.

In this era of Edward Snowden, we need to think about its other side too. What do you think about Outernet? Add your Comments.